Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
Published on: January 7, 2019
Next generation approaches for tumor vaccination
Anand Patel1, Howard L Kaufman2, Mary L Disis3
1Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Abstract:
Tumor vaccines have been an attractive concept in the immunotherapy of cancer based on the central role of tumor-associated antigens in allowing the immune system to recognize cancer cells and the large variety of platforms in which to present such antigens to the immune system. Early clinical studies of vaccines, however, were largely disappointing. Recent evidence that cancer-mediated T cell suppression may prevent T cell activation is leading to renewed interest in vaccine development. The use of T cell checkpoint inhibitors alone has revolutionized the contemporary treatment of human cancer, and has suggested that the emergence of neoantigens may be an important biomarker of therapeutic response. Thus, the possibility of using more personalized vaccines targeting relevant neoantigens alone and in combination with T cell checkpoint blockade is a new area of active clinical investigation. In this review we will discuss the central role of antigens in tumor immunotherapy, describe how vaccines may be developed in the context of modern genomic profiling of tumor cells and provide a forward looking perspective on how tumor vaccines may be incorporated into the current landscape of cancer therapy.
Insights
Tumor vaccines show renewed promise in cancer immunotherapy by targeting tumor antigens and neoantigens. Combining personalized vaccines with T cell checkpoint inhibitors offers a new avenue for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cancer immunotherapy
- Tumor immunology
- Vaccine development
Background:
- Tumor vaccines aim to leverage tumor-associated antigens for immune recognition of cancer cells.
- Early vaccine trials yielded disappointing results due to cancer-mediated T cell suppression.
- Recent advances in understanding T cell suppression and neoantigens have revitalized vaccine research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of antigens in tumor immunotherapy.
- To discuss vaccine development strategies informed by genomic profiling.
- To provide a perspective on integrating tumor vaccines into current cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on tumor antigens and immunotherapy.
- Discussion of vaccine platforms and their presentation of antigens.
- Analysis of the impact of genomic profiling on personalized vaccine design.
Main Results:
- Tumor-associated antigens are crucial for immune recognition of cancer.
- Neoantigens are emerging as biomarkers for therapeutic response to immunotherapies.
- Personalized neoantigen vaccines combined with checkpoint inhibitors are under active clinical investigation.
Conclusions:
- Tumor vaccines are a key area of interest in cancer immunotherapy.
- Personalized vaccines targeting neoantigens hold significant therapeutic potential.
- The combination of vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors may represent the future of cancer treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...